The son of jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy media proprietor Jimmy Lai believes incoming British prime minister Keir Starmer, once a human rights lawyer at the same barristers’ chambers as Australia’s Jennifer Robinson, will play a key role in his father’s freedom.

Ms Robinson, now fighting to free Mr Lai after successfully negotiating the release of Julian Assange last week, also says her team will press hard upon China and Hong Kong that the former Apple Daily newspaper publisher’s release is crucial to stemming capital flight out of the once great global business hub.